KRASNODAR, December 20. /TASS/. A ship with a crew of 16 sailors from Syria and Egypt on board has sent a distress signal in the Kerch Strait, near the port Kavkaz, the Russian Professional Union of Seafarers has told TASS.

"There has been a message from the crew of The Gam Express. The situation is bad: there is no food or potable water. Last time the employer paid wages in August. The crew have sent an SOS signal and hope to enter the port. It looks like such an opportunity has emerged," the union said.

The ship flies the flag of Guinea-Bissau. The wage debt in accordance with international rules could have led to the ship’s arrest.

According to the trade union, there are 16 people on board: one Egyptian citizen and 15 Syrians.

The Novorossiysk Transport Prosecutor's Office, acing on instructions from the Southern Transport Prosecutor Sergey Safinov, is monitoring the implementation of legislation in the field of maritime safety and observance of the rights of crew members following the December 20 distress message from The Gam Express, the press service of the Southern Transport Prosecutor's Office said.